Apparatus for acting upon living organisms



Feb. 16, 1965 A. LANGEVIN APPARATUS FOR ACTING UPON LIVING ORGANISMS s Sheets-Shet 1 Filed May 22. 1961 ANOQE LANGEVI N 6 .mys

' 16, 1965 A. LANGEVIN 3,169,524

APPARATUS FOR ACTING UPON LIVING ORGANISMS Filed May 22. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ANDRE Lmvaavm INVENTOR B y BLM/mam- 6mm A'H'ys Feb. 16, 1965 A. LANGEVIN APPARATUS FOR ACTING UPON LIVING ORGANISMS Filed May 221 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ANDRE. LANGEV/N INVENTOE AH-ys human organism.

United States Patent 3,169,524 APFARATUS FUR ACTING UPGN LIVING ORGANISMS Andre Langevin, 38 Rue de Vaugirard, Paris, France Filed May 22, 1961, Ser. No. 111,566 Claims priority, application France, May 30, 1960, 828,576 8 Claims. (3. 128-1721) The present invention relates to an apparatus for acting upon living organisms in order to regularize and promote their physiological and biological, animal or vegetable activity.

I In this respect it is known that negative ions exert a favorable influence on living organisms. Therefore, it is the object of this invention to provide a practical and economical apparatus adapted to act upon living organisms by means of negative ions. It is another object of this invention to increase to a maximum the action of negative ions by producing an intense negative ionization adapted to last during a sufficiently long time period, so that the effect of the negative ions may be extended and reinforced.

Tothis end, this invention provides an apparatus comprising a device adapted to producenegatively-ionized aqueous aerosols adapted to be sprayed onto the living organisms tobe treatedQthis device comprising on appararus for producing water droplets of relatively large (llmensions and an ionizing apparatus adapted. to produce negative ions which fix themselves on the water droplets, he latter having dimensions sufficient to develop relatively large negative ions. V

In the apparatus of this invention, the apparatus 'producing the negatively-ionized aqueous aerosols may comprise an ionizing device operatingaccording to the basic principle of bubbling ionization or, desired, according to any of the conventional or known ionization methods, for example the ionization obtained by using high produce relatively large negat ive ions having a very-,

moderate mobility, thus ensuringa long-lasting ionization, whereas conventional methods and device for producing negative ions produce only small ions of consider-' able mobility. This result is achieved by' the fact that in the apparatus of this inventionthe small'ions pro duced by a suitable apparatus off'any type'are fixed on 1 Water droplets acting as carriers theIefO -the'sedropletS havinga relatively large diameterjsolthat these highmobility small ions are somewhat transformed into large ions having a very moderate mobility; "Thus, the'negafields or currents in the form of pulses.

tive ions produced by the apparatus arecapable of exerting a very efiicient' actionof'physiological and biological character onthe'living organisms. l v :Howevenjit' is also knovvhfthat high frequency fields are also capable of exerting a favorable .actioiion living x organisms and on the otherijhandftheyl have already been yearsfin "medicinejfor treating the. f

widely used for many With "the foregoing in view, itis alsothe object of thep'resent invention to provide apreferred embodiment of the treatment apparatus broadly set forth hereinabove which is adapted to combine the-action of negative ions The device illustrated in FIGURE 1' conslstsiofthe 'combination of an atomizer 1 witha bubble type 'ioniza with wa-ter inwhich isimmerseda pipe died with compressed air'fronr'fa compressor 4 providedwith 'an air physiological order.

a 7 3,169,524 Patented Feb. is; ress with that of a magnetic field or of a current having a more or less high frequency, the first action being strongly intensified by the second action. To this end, the present'invention contemplates the use of a polyvalent action of the magnetic field or electric current of more or less high frequency produced by the apparatus. In fact, up to new, in medicine, only the action of fields characterized by a sinusoidal oscillation have been used, the single frequency of ,these fields being selected from the range appearing to be the most favorable for treating a given disease.

According to this preferred embodiment, the treatment apparatus comprises, in combination With the device for producing negatively ionized aqueous ions, an electrical device for producing a magnetic field or current characterized by successive pulses.

Thus, this apparatus advantageously combines the action of negative ions with that of fields or currents of more or less high frequencies, the first action being of physical and biological order, and the second action of However, this apparatus is also advantageous in that it improves the action exerted by the field or current of more or less high frequencies. This'improvement is ascribable to the fact that this action is renderedpoly-f valent in the apparatus of this invention for the latter produces a field or current in the form of pulses. In fact,

it isknown that if a function is developed according to; theFourier series into pulses, it is observed that it contreating all kinds of living organisms, such as useful ,bac-

teria, ferments, yeasts, various vegetables and animals,

as well 'as human beings.

Inthe treatment apparatusofthis invention, the elec trical device for producinga' pulse field or current may be of different types. r

Thus, the attacheddrawings illustrate by way of exi ample" only a..feW"typical embodiments of the ionized aerosol producing device and of electrical devices for producing a pulsefield or current; In the drawings: FIGUREE I is a diagrammatic. elevational View showing an apparatus for producing ionized aerosols;

' FIGURE 2 is an axial section showingia complementary ion selector. device adapted to be: associated with the device for producing ionized aqueous areosolsj 1 FIGURE 3 is an axial section showing a modified em-' bodiment of the ionization apparatus of the device for' producing ionized aqueous areosolsg-i anouaasa m .6f illustrategelectrical dag-ants of a few typical efrarnples "of electrical devices for producing- "tiionapparatus.

This;ionizat1on apparatus consists of a vessel 2 filled filter. 5 on its. suction side 'iConnected to the .orificeofdropletsqofrelatively large diameter; Thus, the lODiZfi-r tion'apparatus producesin the pipe 6 an air stream loaded with light negative ions having a considerable mobility. These ions are thus caused to fix themselves on the water droplets produced by the atomizer, the size of these droplets being suficient to produce an assembly constituting relatively large ions having a moderate mobility. Under these conditions, the device will finally produce'an aqueous aerosol loaded with large negative ions which can be directed at will onto the living organisms to be treated. f course, the compressor contemplated in this device may be replaced by a turbine or a fan of a power sufiicient to deliver air under pressure into the bubbling vessel of the ionization apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates a complementary device adapted to be associated with the main aerosol-producing device illustrated in FIGURE 1 with a view to effect an ion selection at the output end of the device, so that the aerosols carry along only negative ions to the outside.

In fact, as will be readily understood, the main device produces always positive ions in more or less great quantity, at the same time as negative ions. Now, only negative ions exert a favorable action on living organisms.

Thiscomplementary device consists essentially of a metallic chamber 8 of cylindrical configuration, which may consist for example of brass. One end of this chamber is closed by a wall 9 carrying an inlet nozzle 10. The opposite end of this chamber is closed by a cover 11 of insulating material carrying a pipe 12 also of insulating material which projects from either side of this cover.

Mounted within the chamber 8 is a cylinder 13 made of wire gauze, for example brass wire gauze, which has a considerably smaller diameter. The sides of the meshes constituting this wire gauze may be about 4 millimeters long. This cylinder is secured on the inner end of the insulating tube 12. I

The wire gauze cylinder 13 is shorter than chamber 8 and its end registering with the end Wall 9 carries a thin perforated metal plate 14.

The wire gauze cylinder 13, which is to constitute an electrode, is electrically connected to a high-voltage terminal 15. This terminal is also used for securing an intermediate portion of the cylinder on the cylindrical wall of chamber 8, adequate electrical insulating means being interposed therebetween.

To this end, the terminal 15 consists of a screw engaging a nut 16 welded on the cylinder 13. This nut is clamped against a block 17 of insulating material fitting in a corresponding aperture formed in the Wall of chamber 8. On the other hand, the screw is formed with a cavity 18 adapted to receive a pin 19 for connecting thereto a conductor 20 leading from a suitable high-voltage source.

7 positive ions are attracted by the negative electrode con- Secured 0n the wall of chamber 8 is a terminal 21 for connecting another conductor 22 from the high-voltage supply. The connections are so made that terminal 15 receives the positive polarity and terminal 21 the negative polarity of the current. Thus, the wire gauze cylin to the form of embodiment illustrated'and described.

der 13 constitutes a positive electrode and the wall of chamber 8 constitutes a negative electrode.

The above-described complementary device of this invention is associated with the device for producing ionized course, if the aerosol producing device is provided with an outlet pipe, theinozz-le 10 is connected to this pipe.

When the ionized aerosols penetrate into chamber 8,,

sisting of the chamber 8. Thus, they are projected against the inner wall of this chamber and also removed from the gaseous stream of aerosols. Thus, the aerosols are finally expelled through the outlet pipe 12 are carried along only negative ions. These aerosols therefore comprise only negative ions exerting a favorable action on the living organisms. Preferably, the inner wall of chamber 8 comprises an aperture having secured along its edges a receptacle 23 for collecting the moisture produced by the positive ions eliminated by the apparatus, a suitable drain cook 24 being provided in the lower wall of this receptacle.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified embodiment of the bubbling-type ionization apparatus incorporated in the device for producing ionized aqueous aerosols. This alternate embodiment is designed with a view to increase the number of ions produced by the ionization apparatus.

To this end, it has been observed experimentally that the number of ions produced is proportional to a large extent to the number of air bubbles passing through the liquid mass. With this object in view, this alternate embodiment aims at multiplying the number of orifices through which air is released within this liquid mass.

In this embodiment the ionization apparatus consists essentially of a glass or plastic vessel 2a for example of substantially cylindrical configuration. A transverse parof a compressor or any other suitable device, opens into this space. Welded on the top of vessel 2a is an outlet nozzle 26 comprising a lateral orifice having a discharge pipe 6a welded on its edge. This pipe 6a is preferably of the bafile type, for example similar to those used for cooling columns in which volatile organic products are distilled. The purpose of the bafiies in this pipe 6a is to prevent the droplets of the liquid contained in the vessel from being carried along by the air stream escaping through this pipe. The level of the liquid 27 contained in the vessel is above the porous partition 25. This level should be determined as a function of the air throughput.

As will be readily understood, the compressed air fed through pipe 3a to the bottom of vessel 2a is caused to fiow through the porous plate 25 throughout the surface thereof. Thus, this air penetrates into the liquid mass through the great number of orifices formed in the plate 25, thus increasing considerably the number. of ions produced by the apparatus. I w

Of course, the apparatus of this invention is not limited Thus, the porous partition 25' extending transversely near the bottom ofthe vessel: may be replaced by a partition also of porous material which is disposed on one side of the vessel and having its edges welded to the inner wall of this vessel in orderto-constitute a compartment receivrng theoutlet end of the compressed air supply line 3a.

In this case too, the air would be caused to penetrate into the-.liquid mass through the great number of orifices of be substituted for the plate 25, this sleeve being disposed the ions carried along by" these aerosols are subjected-to the intense electrical field produced between .the inner.

wall of chamber 8 and the wire gauze cylinder 13. As the latter is connected to the positive terminal, the negative ions are attracted by this cylinder and therefore ascelerated. Under these conditions, they flow through the wire gauze wall of the cylinder and are thus-removed from the electrical field; Thenf-these ions cantravel V in'the preceding examples. I

this porous plate."

i On the other hand, a cylindrical sleeve of porous material, having a diameter inferior to that of the vessel, may

concentrically-within the vessel and welded on the bottom and cover thereof. Thus, this porous sleeve would form in'the'vessel 2d an. annular compartment receiving 7 the outlet orifice of the compressed air supply line,-and the compressedair would'be forced through the manyorificesof this sleeve, Under these conditions, the number ot orifices available for the. passage and therefore the bubbling of the compressed air would still .be greater than FIG. 4 illustrates the wiring diagram of an extremely simple electrical device for producing successive pulses, this device being combined, inathe treatment apparatus of this invention, with the device producing the aqueous ionized aerosols.

This device comprises a gas-discharge lamp 28 filled with neon or other suitable gas, which is mounted in series with a resistor 29 and one or more reactors 30 adaptedto produce a magnetic field of same shape as the current flowing through the circuit 31.

The lamp 28 is selected to have a glow voltage lower than the voltage of the supply network or mains. Thus, if the voltage of the supply network or mains is 110 volts, the lamp 28 will be selected to have a 90-volt glow voltage. Thus, no current can flow through the reactor or reactors 30 during that fraction of the mains alternation during which the voltage is inferior to 90 volts and when the voltage attains this value the current fiows suddenly if the reactor or reactors 30 have a moderate self-induction inserted in the circuit. Under these conditions, a current discontinuity is obtained which corresponds to a current pulse, so that the device produces a magnetic field of nearly pulse shape.

To obtain pulses of really rectangular configuration, an electrical device is used which comprises an arrangement such as a lamp flip-flop, a monostable multivibrator, a Schmidt multivibrator or the like. FIG. 5 illustrates by way of example only a device of this character comprising a multivibrator provided with capacitors 32 interconnecting the grid and plate of the two triodes 33, the circuit also comprising suitable resistors 34. This device is adapted to deliver across the output terminals 35 a high voltage current with rectangular pulses, and by changing the value of the capacitors 32 it is possible to alter at will the frequency of the current pulses.

However, if it is desired to obtain at the same time variable frequencies of the pulse recurrence and adjustable pulse durations, a device is used which comprises a relaxation oscillator of the type used for oscillograph scanning (see FIG. 6) by associating therewith a capacitor-resistor derivation device adapted to transform the sawtooth voltage delivered by the relaxation oscillator into pulses the'frequency of which can be adjusted by modifying the value of the capacitor C incorporated in the relaxation oscillator. The pulse width or duration may be adjusted by modifying the value of the time constant of the discharge circuit of capacitor C of the relaxation oscillator, for example by modifying the value of the resistor inserted in the discharge circuit of this capacitor. A derivation device comprising a capacitor and resistor unit, and

then one or two pentode-type amplifying stages are associated with this relaxation oscillator, the output being 7 through the medium of a conventional power amplifying stage. 1

The principle of operation of the relaxation oscillator illustrated in FIG. 6 is as follows: V

In a first phase of the cycle of operation the highvoltage (H-T) supply connected to the apparatus'charges its curve of variation constitutes the ascending portion of a sawtooth voltage curve.

Wen the voltage across the capacitorterminals attains an adjustable predetermined value the impedance of the t spark gap consisting of a gas-filled, triode or thyratron tube 38 drops suddenly to' a. verylow value causing a -very rapid discharge of thecapacitor and producing in V the curve of its potentialdilference across the terminals the vertical descending portion of the sawtooth voltage.

. The priming voltage of this sudden discharge may be modified by means of a potentiometer 39 whereby the biasing value of the thyratron grid may be changed at will.

u said container is substantially increased; v p

3. Apparatus according to'claim l, wherein said pipe." 2

'By changing thebiasing potential of this grid the ampli- The strength of the current flowing through the pentode 36 mounted as a constant current impedance may be modified at will through an automatic biasing potentiometer 40 modifying the potential of the control grid of pentode 36. On the other hand, this current strength is measured by the milliammeter 41. The adjustment of the current fiowing'through the pentode'36 may be combined with the use or operation of the set of capacitors 3'7. When the capacitor set is fully discharged the'impedance of the thyratron 38 is no more zero and capacitor 37 begins to recharge itself so that another cycle of fast charge and discharge is resumed.

To produce real pulses the sawtooth voltage variation obtained across the terminals of one of capacitors 37 may be derivated, that is, converted into pulses with the assistance of a mounting incorporating a capacitor 43 and a resistor 44 in series. Thus, by simply connecting the commonterminal 42 of capacitors 37 (which is the seat of the sawtooth potential difference) to the input terminal of the assembly comprising the capacitor 43 and resistor 44 in order to produce across the terminals of resistor 44 V a potential difference having the shape of the derivative of the mathematical function representing a sawtooth.

This last-named potential difference is finally amplified through a power stage comprising a power pentode, the

output of this stage being fed to a resistor 46'inserted in pentode fed with a very low anode voltage, for example a voltage lower than or equal to 106 volts.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit-and scope ofthe invention, as those skilled in the art will readily under? stand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims. a

What I claim as new is: I

1. An apparatus for producing negatively ionized aqueous aerosols for treating living organisms, which comprises first means for producing 'a stream of gas under pressure, second means for bubbling said gaseous stream in a liquid partially filling a closed container in order to ionize said gaseous stream, third means for atomizing a liquid in the form of a jet of droplets ofvariable size,

fourth means for causing said'ionized gaseous stream to pass through said jet of liquiddroplets, said ionized gasdroplets on which the gaseous ions are fixed forming negatively and positively ionized aqueous aerosolsand being carried along by said gaseous'stream through a selector device adapted to retain the positively charged droplets" and permit the negatively charged droplets to pass through.

' 2. Apparatus according to claim l'wherein said cor1- v tainer is provided with a lining of porous material impervious to liquids so located as to permit saidi stream'of gas to pass therethrough prior to the'entry of said stream 7 into said liquid,fwhereby the number of ions produced in line comprises a serpentine tube whereby said liquid is prevented from benig carried away by said. gaseous stream. 4; apparatus for treating-living organisms, as set 7 forth in claim 1, wherein said vessel of the ionization device comprises an inner partition of porous material dividing the inner space of said vessel into two compartments, said delivered air directing means opening into one of said compartments, the other compartment re-.

ceiving the liquid filling said vessel, said outlet pipe leading from said other compartment.

5. An apparatus for treating living organisms as set forth in claim 1, which comprises, in addition, a ion selector device comprising a metal-walled chamber having a first end communicating through an orifice with said outlet pipe of the vessel of said ionization device and with the orifice of said water droplet producing device, and another end equipped with an outlet nozzle communicating with the outside, a Wire gauzesleeve mounted in said metal chamber, one end of said sleeve being secured on said outlet nozzle of said chamber, a pair of terminals carried by said chamber and said sleeve respectively, electrically insulated from each other and connected to a high-voltage electrical supply circuit, the terminal carried by said chamber being of negative polarity, whereby the positive ions are attracted and retained by the inner Wall of said chamber and the negative ions penetrate into said wire gauze cylinder and are projected alone to the outside.

6. An apparatus for treating living organisms as set forth in claim 1, which comprises, in addition, said selector being an elongated chamber, a gauzecylinder mounted therein, the respective ends of said cylinder being in alinement with the entrance toand exitfrom 'said chamber, said cylinder being the positive electrode and said chamber being the negative electrode of a high voltage source of current. I

7. An apparatus for treating living organisms as set forth in claim 6, which comprises, in addition, a positive terminal mounted on said chamber, insulated therefrom and conductively connected toa central portion of said cylinder.

8. An apparatus for treating living organisms as set forth in claim 6 which comprises, in addition, a receptacle for liquid extending from the bottom of said chamber directly below said cylinder, and means for draining said receptacle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/38 McRae 128-172. 5/42 Ronzi 128-172.1 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING NEGATIVELY IONIZED AQUEOUS AEROSOLS FOR TREATING IVING ORGANISMS, WHICH COMPRISES FIRST MEANS FOR PRODUCING A STREAM OF GAS UNDER PRESSURE, SECOND MEANS FOR BUBBLING SAID GASEOUS STREAM IN A LIQUID PARTIALLY FILLING A CLOSED CONTAINER IN ORDER TO IONIZE SAID GASEOUS STREAM, THIRD MEANS FOR ATOMIZING A LIQUID IN THE FORM OF A JET OF DROPLETS OF VARIABLE SIZE, FOURTH MEANS FOR CAUSING SAID IONIZED GASEOUS STREAM TO PASS THROUGH SAID JET OF LIQUID DROPLETS, SAID IONIZED GASEOUS STREAM BEING FED FOR THIS PURPOSE THROUGH A PIPE LINE BRANCHED OFF THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER, THE DROPLETS ON WHICH THE GASEOUS IONS ARE FIXED FORMING NEGATIVELY AND POSITIVELY IONIZED AQUEOUS AEROSOLS AND BEING CARRIED ALONG BY SAID GASEOUS STREAM THROUGH A SELECTOR DEVICE ADAPTED TO RETAIN THE POSITIVELY CHARGED DROPLETS AND PERMIT THE NEGATIVELY CHARGED DROPLETS TO PASS THROUGH. 